Posts to pillars, pillars to posts

McClellanville, SC   

These aren't your usual white porch pillars. It took me a second glance to realize they were bare unpainted tree trunks. Well done McClellanville!

Church Photos in Lieu of Attendance - McClellanville, SC

McClellanville United Methodist Church

Not everyone goes to church on a Thursday afternoon but tag along with me as we admire the churches of McClellanville, SC. We had an official escort after meeting the new Methodist pastor Reverend Tim Saucy who had the keys to let us snoop around after enjoying a bowl of crab chowder at TW Graham & Co. restaurant.

We started with one of his new churches, the historic McClellanville United Methodist Church in the center of the little coastal village. A black cat welcomed us, the lady doing the cleaning knew the church history and the hurricane Hugo high water mark plaque on the wall was terrifying.

The children of McClellanville have had free use of all the churches for Vacation Bible School week so we also walked over to visit the beautiful Episcopal Chapel of Ease.

Our final stop was down Highway 45 to the tiny little Wrens Chapel another Methodist church. I believe my immediate family would fill it up. It was built in 1865 to replace an even older church burnt during the war between the states.

Walk with me - West Ashley Greenway

West Ashley Greenway, Charleston, SC    

I often walk the east end of the West Ashley Greenway popping out at the South Windermere shopping plaza but this was the first time to drive to the south trail end off Main Rd. and walk in from the direction. The tide was out and I passed folks carrying fishing rods and clearly set up for a morning of crabbing. It was never crowded but I saw dogs, bikes and babies on this beautiful stretch of trail.

I was in search of a tree that people have been throwing their sneakers on to. I heard it was on the part of the path but although I walked for a couple of miles I never spotted it. Phewy. I need to find the other access spots further in and try again. Meanwhile I got my 10,000 steps in and saw beautiful scenery. Well worth a visit.

Edit to add the picture below. I walked all that distance to find the tree with all the shoes tossed over branches, gave up and walked out. A kind reader on Facebook suggested that I look closely on the photo above. I was standing right under the tree in question. Duh me. I assume the original image that sparked my interest had been taken in the winter without all the foliage on the tree. 

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance - Brick Church at Wambaw

Brick Church at Wambaw, St. James Santee Parish

The chapel is set in a peaceful pine tree forest. The last time I was there was in the evening with all the windows open, listening to the talented gentlemen from the Charlestones group sing to me. I had reminded myself then to come back in the daylight for pictures and was grateful for gentle light yesterday. It is a tricky spot to photograph in bright glaring sun. The church was built in 1768 and you feel immersed in history on the property.

About the Brick Church at WambawAlthough Wambaw Church stands alone on the old King’s Highway among the pines and oaks of the forest, it was once the center of a busy and prosperous community.  North and south along the Santee River were rice plantations whose Carolina rice became famous all over the world and the prosperity of the planters is reflected in the beauty and proportions of Wambaw Church.  The body of the church was built of brick imported from England, but the columns of   the portico were constructed of local wedge-shaped bricks.  The pews were made of hand-pegged cypress, the flagstone floor has withstood the  ravages of two wars and the vaulted ceiling still retains the original plaster work. 

Trying to stay ahead

McClellanville, SC   

I figured if they were going to have something like this on their property they wouldn't mind me taking a picture of it. Hello there! 

How hot is it?

Charleston, SC    

Our annual "How Hot is it?" entry:

With a heat index of 106, it's already so hot in South Carolina that...

* A seat belt makes a pretty good branding iron.

* When the temperature drops below 95, you feel a bit chilly.

* It's so hot outside it will make you return things you never stole.

* It's hotter than a steel playground at noon.

* You can attend any function wearing shorts and a tank top.

* The best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance.

* Hot water now comes out of both taps.

* You actually burn your hand opening the car door.

* You realize that asphalt has a liquid state.

• It's so hot the birds have to use potholders to pull worms out of the ground.

• It's so hot I saw two trees fighting over a dog.

* It is so hot even the sea breeze feels like a hair dryer...

• It was so hot today I saw a dog chasing a cat and they were both walking.

• It's hotter than a June bride in a feather bed.

• It's so hot that the trees are creeping around looking for shade.

• It's stupid hot!

• It is hot enough to cure tobacco.

• It's hotter than the devil's underwear.

• It's another one of those aluminum foil sweater days.

* It's so hot you could spit fire. But, please don't.

Mural fun

Home Team BBQ, Williman St., Charleston, SC    

What a fun mural I spotted on the side of the downtown location of Home Team BBQ just off Morrison Dr. on Williman St. You know how murals and sidewalk graffiti bring me joy. I am almost too easy to please. Thanks Home Team! 

Chalmers St.

Pink House, Charleston, SC    

I frequently pass this darling home on Chalmers St. that is often described as the oldest home on the peninsula but rarely find it without a car parked right in front of it. No car blocking the view and crepe myrtle trees in bloom - my lucky day!

A short walk down the street I always stop to admire my initials in the author Josephine Pinckney's home. JP! How considerate.

On the road - Conway, SC

Conway, SC   

Almost two hours up the coast Conway, SC has a nice river walk along the Waccamaw black river and is the perfect distance for a day trip. After a lazy start on Sunday we arrived just in time for lunch at the Bonfire Taqueria and sat on the porch watching the boats go by. The smoked bbq was delicious and the portion too generous to clean my plate.

Shops on Main St. were closed but it looks like a lively downtown with a theater, bakeries, boutiques, historic City Hall and churches.

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance - Prince Frederick's Chapel

Prince Frederick's Chapel, Plantersville, SC    

Not too far from Georgetown and well worth a detour on historic Plantersville Road is this dramatic chapel ruin. The gate was locked so I didn't go any further. I almost crawled through the hole in the fencing that has clearly been used before, but I didn't, okay. Happy now?

Prince Frederick’s Episcopal Church: Begun in 1859 and completed in 1876, Prince Frederick’s Chapel played a vital role in the religious life of the Pee Dee settlers in the latter half of the 19th century. With the decline of the rice economy, parishioners migrated to the more densely populated urban areas and the church suffered from lack of maintenance. The ruins of the chapel are all that remain of what once was a striking example of Gothic Revival architecture in South Carolina

Edited to add an older image showing the higher decorative pillars. 

Hero of Two Worlds

Marquis de Lafayette, Georgetown, SC   

You don't have to call me Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette. Just call me Lafayette. 

What a life of adventure he led. He sailed to America to lend a hand in the American Revolution and happened to pull up in Georgetown, SC. Can you imagine opening your door to find a Frenchman arriving to fight the British? This statue is near the rice museum in Georgetown. 

Landing of Lafayette: After LaFayette’s plan to join the American cause under the steam of his own ship was discovered by the British, the King of France was pressured to forbid his nobleman from leaving his homeland. In fact, the King ordered LaFayette to join his father in Marseille and was informed that failure to comply with the royal command would result in his imprisonment. Again, LaFayette was not to be dissuaded.

LaFayette set out for Spain. Disguised as a woman, he set sail on April 20, 1777 for America. Although the captain of the ship intended to stop over in the West Indies to sell some goods, LaFayette feared any layovers would open a window of opportunity for the British that would result in his arrest. To avoid this delay in his mission to America, LaFayette again opened his own purse and bought the cargo from the captain in exchange for the skipper’s promise to sail directly to America.

On June 13, 1777, the Marquis de LaFayette landed on North Island near Georgetown, South Carolina. This was almost as a momentous a landing as any other in American history. 

It is almost the 240th anniversary of his arrival on June 13, 1777.  Cheers to the freedom loving Marquis!

Rub a dub, dub...

Broad St., Charleston, SC    

Rub a dub, dub. This is a decent size tree in a tub.

I like that I spotted the scene on Broad St.

I have so much free time in the evening. I keep waiting for it to cool down so I can go for my walk and it never does.

Happy Independence Day!

Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon, East Bay St., Charleston, SC   

It is tradition to read the Declaration of Independence from the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon on July 4th and a good crowd was gathered in the heat this morning. A wreath was then carried to St. Philip's churchyard and placed on the tomb of Governor John Rutledge who first read the document to the citizens of South Carolina many years ago. The annual tradition of publicly reading the Declaration of Independence began in 2013 through the organizing efforts and planning from the Washington Light Infantry.

As I walked down I met an elderly British gentleman who was taking a break in the shade. He was on his own on his first trip to the states. I told him if he could make it as far as East Bay St. he would get to see the event. He said that was exactly where he was heading.  

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance - Edisto Presbyterian Church

Presbyterian Church on Edisto, Edisto Island, SC   

There are beautiful historic churches on Edisto Island and the Presbyterian Church with it's tiny Praise Chapel is always worth a pause and visit. The historic cemetery comes with it's own ghost story. The congregation was founded in 1685 and the current church building was constructed in 1831.  The church sanctuary and manse (where pastors have lived since the 18th century) are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

It is a beautiful but hot day in Charleston. I went by the Sunday Brunch Farmer's Market on Maybank Highway and now have a carrot cake in the oven and feel I should be able to laze around for the rest of the afternoon. Zzzzzzz. I hope everyone is having a great holiday weekend. 

History Fair at Magnolia Plantation

History Fair, Magnolia Plantation, Charleston, SC     

I do get my money's worth out of my annual pass to Magnolia Plantation and this morning I stopped by the History Fair to listen to music, stroll through the history booths and listen to story telling from the Slave Dwelling Project.

The History Fair is free. Guests who purchase the $20 general admission to the gardens will be treated to special programming, including a storyteller, brick-making demonstration and access to a living history program. "Living History Through the Eyes of the Enslaved," an outreach of the Slave Dwelling Project founded by Joseph McGill, Magnolia's history consultant. Living History will present blacksmith and cooking demonstrations and storytellers. This part of the program will be staged at the former slave cabins.

Joseph McGill

Summertime

Charleston piazza, Charleston, SC   

Beach towels hanging over porches say summertime to me. The colleges might be on break but that is a good number of bicycles. It looks like some good times happen here. 

Need a Notary?

Notary Services, Bogard St., Charleston, SC    

Cutty's is a neighborhood bar across from a pizza restaurant at St. Philip's & Bogard St. The Notary Public sign caught my eye but I didn't notice the hours of operation until I got home. That is funny. Now check out the wee figure perched on top of the light fixture.

A former members-only club reborn as a boozy community center for Charleston's creatures of the night. We're divey and proud of it. Entrance on Bogard St, across from D'Al's Pizza.

Shutter art

Morris St., Charleston, SC   

They have seen better days but these decorative shutters always make me pause and smile. Thank you, dear builder for taking the extra trouble to cut in flowers that entertain me still so many years later.

Shem Creek Boardwalk

Shem Creek Boardwalk, Mt. Pleasant, SC   

Walking the boardwalk at Shem Creek park is like an instant vacation. Shrimp boats, kayaks, stand up paddlers, fishing and dolphins bobbing in the creek.